The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1887-10-13
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Rye Culture.


appreciation of the value of rye as q
forage crop, desire to say something
in its behalf hoping what l say may
induce some who never have, to give
the crop fair trial.
OF course all farmers know all about
rye, from the fact that it requires on
ly peck of seed to the acre, sown on
the poorest part of the farm, and
tramped in by the stock to produce q
crop as 'high as the fence"
Now let me here say, that is not the
kind of seeding, nor the kind of pre-
para.ion, nor the kind Of land, nor
the kind Of cfsp I ana writing about.
Rye will grow On any draaAed land /;
but the better the land, the better the
rye.
Select a piece OF good land. Land
in high state of cultivation, and if
possible manure heavily, then SOW
two bushels of rye per acre, pillow in
lightly and harrow level, and it will
produce crop of forage shat will do
stock more good than any other l
know Of
First, because it is at season that
stock most relish it; having had no
green feed for months, it comes just
right to make up variety.
Secondly, the yield il enormous. |
should think at least five tons cured
hay per acre if cut twice, as it well
can be. The proper time to cut for
hay is just as the heap begins to APP
pear-don't wait later, as there is dan
ger in feeding to horses after the bris
ties come out.
The Country Gentleman, which is
considered authority on hay and
grasses, estimates rye hay cut as above
stated, to be worth three fourths the
value of timothy hay-think of thatl
Fifty dollars per acre as a winter
crop. and off time enough to plant in
corn. This requires good land, ma
nnre and preparation. Mr.. 7. t.
Oliver of Pine Level, who is one of
our best farmers, told the writer that
he did hot fully appreciate the value
u rye till this year.
Bir. Oliver sowed some hill sides
thin land for HMM rye; cut once
and when second growth was about
two and one-half feet high he turned
II under and planted corn. He was
astonished at the yield Iof corn. Said
the corn was equal to low-land corn,
and he proposes to not only plant it
as forage and pasture crop, but
largely as crop to pillow under in
spring for manure. Persons having
81 n heavy land, deficient in vegetable
matter might give rye trial. 1t
= Ill work wonders. have said moth
II. ofrye as a pasture, but will add
anst the editor Of the Southern Live
Stock Journal says in that respect:
The editor of this paper sowed
four or five acres in rye last Fall, his
first experience with this crop. He
intended to fence the rye off to itself,
out did not carry out his original pur-
pose, and fifty or sixty head of cattle
sfazed upon it and trampled it over
all Fall and Winter; and at times
the rye would seem to be entirely ex-
terminated. But it was not extermi-
mated, and every warm spell it put
forth its green blades anG the stock
would bite it off into the very earth.
Late in the Spring the cattle were
taken out of the field and the rye put
up beautifully and we have harvested
a fair crop. This after having been
severely pastured all Winter. What
ether crop will stand such treatment
AMI nos refuse to yiaA ito increase?
Onr farmers need 10 naks the farm
>eil =ustaining and rye will help to-
wand doing that. Plenty Of forage
means more stock-more stock means
niorc manure more manure gives bet
TEL crops, and we all know what bet
le' crops mean.
We want to get out of the old rut;
DIVERSITY, and begin by sowing rye.
SOW now. November will do if not
aii'ady sown in October. Better sow
l. December than not to SOW at all !;
-, september and October are far
lie best months. If fodder or hay
>carce rye will make good sub
-.itote. Try it,
isecapitulation: For forage have
I'D land rich, SOW in September or
October two bushels per. acre. Plow
N shallow. Aside from this SOW as
much land as possible with half BUSH
ci to one bushel seed, for pasturage,
and to pillow in next Spring for man.
ufe, reserving enough for seed.--A.
Is. c.. an the GOIdsboYO A9.0qt.